factor

A2 Topic:Cause, Change & Process

US /ˈfæk.tɚ/ UK /ˈfæk.tə/ See IPA manual

Freq #5776

Meanings

1

noun
One of the things that influences or helps cause a result.

Cost was the biggest factor in our decision.
2

verb
To include something as an important point when making a decision or calculation.

You must factor in the cost of repairs before buying the car.
3

noun
A whole number that divides exactly into another number.

What are the factors of six?

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to include something as an... factor in

3 noun · a whole number that divides... divisor

Word family

Forms factoredfactoringfactors

Derived forms bifactorbiofactorcofactorcorn-factorcounterfactoreigenfactorfactorabilityfactorablefactoragefactoressfactorialfactorist

Related forms fact faction factory fashion successor

Appears in

Phrases (5)

See all

form factor
the physical size, shape, and arrangement of a device or hardware component, especially when these follow a standard

Noun + noun
conversion factor
a number used to multiply a measurement when changing it into different units

Noun + noun
intrinsic factor
a substance produced in the stomach that enables vitamin B12 absorption

Adjective + noun
reflection factor
the proportion of incoming radiant energy that a surface reflects

Noun + noun
rhesus factor
a red-blood-cell antigen used in classifying blood as Rh-positive or Rh-negative

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle French facteur, from Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).

*dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Cause, Change & Process

External links

# factor

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈfæk.tɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfæk.tə/
**Frequency rank:** 5776

## Meanings
1. One of the things that influences or helps cause a result.
2. To include something as an important point when making a decision or calculation.
3. A whole number that divides exactly into another number.

## Examples
- Cost was the biggest factor in our decision.
- You must factor in the cost of repairs before buying the car.
- What are the factors of six?

## Derived Forms
- bifactor
- biofactor
- cofactor
- corn-factor
- counterfactor
- eigenfactor
- factorability
- factorable
- factorage
- factoress
- factorial
- factorist

## Related Forms
- fact
- faction
- factory
- fashion
- successor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *dʰeh₁-

## Etymology
From Middle French facteur, from Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).

## AI Etymology
Factor comes from Middle French facteur, from Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”). In current use, the main senses are “One of the things that influences or helps cause a result” and “To include something as an important point when making a decision or calculation”.

## Topics
- Cause, Change & Process

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